PAK’nSAVE Royal Oak

Pak’nSave Royal Oak is a busy, well-known spot that locals rely on for cheap groceries, but it definitely has its ups and downs. The prices are great — like all Pak’nSaves, it’s one of the most affordable places to do a full shop, especially if you’re feeding a family or trying to stretch the budget. But don’t go in expecting a relaxed, peaceful shopping experience. It gets packed. Almost every day of the week, the place is buzzing with people, and weekends can feel like a full-on mission just to get a trolley through the aisles. The store itself is on the older side. The layout works, but it’s not the easiest to navigate when it’s crowded. Aisles can feel narrow with trolleys going in every direction, and some areas get a bit messy. You’ll often find good deals, especially on bulk items, meat, and pantry staples. The produce section is okay, but not the most consistent. Some days you’ll find fresh, decent-quality fruit and veg, and other days it looks like it’s been sitting there a while. The bakery and deli sections have the basics, nothing too fancy, but they do the job. The meat department usually has good pricing, though again, quality can be a bit hit or miss depending on when you shop. They do cater pretty well to the local community, and you’ll find a decent range of international products. Customer service is a mixed bag. Some staff are helpful and friendly if you stop and ask, others are clearly just trying to get through the day. Don’t expect anyone to come up and ask if you need help — it’s more of a “grab it and go” kind of environment. There are self-checkouts, which help a bit, but queues can still get long, especially around 5pm or during weekend rushes. Parking is one of the main headaches. The carpark is tight and fills up quickly. You really have to be patient, especially during peak times. It’s in a busy spot right near Royal Oak Mall, so there’s a constant flow of traffic in and out. One thing to watch out for is the in-store availability vs what’s advertised online. They don’t always match up, so if you’re going in for something specific you saw on the website, it’s a bit of a gamble whether it’ll actually be there. Overall, Pak’nSave Royal Oak does what it’s supposed to — saves you money. But you’ve got to be ready to deal with the crowd, limited parking, and the no-frills vibe. If you’re after a bargain and don’t mind a bit of chaos, it’s worth it. Just don’t expect it to be stress-free.

Self checkouts are BAD. Scales far too sensitive constantly bringing up errors requiring store login. Woolworths has this worked out. Rest of the store is ok and staff are helpful.

This is the best supermarket to go to to save money and for a great range of staples and some great specialties like Vutter. Organic products also at reasonable prices. Also it has good recycling facilities for soft plastic packaging, metal lids and plastic lids. 10/10

Spacious aisles, great prices, and friendly checkout staff. Loved the fresh produce section—peppers and bananas were top quality! Grabbed all my weekly groceries here in one go. Always a reliable spot for value and variety in Auckland.

I would suggest to not use the self service checkout machines especially when you have a lot in your trolley and try to save time. It is absolutely not easier or faster from my own experience. I had to get help to continue multiple times. Also, bought 4 whole trays of coffee capsules but had to get all 32 boxes out of the trays to scan one by one then put them back.... the admin person can't just scan one and x 32. I mean, understand why but I am sure it can be designed smarter.